AM2
DATA SHEET
AUTOMIXER
General Description
The Rane AM2 is both an 8 channel, gain-sharing automatic mic
mixer and simultaneously a Rane RAD. Use it as a standalone
mic-only mixer, or add more gain-shared mics using up to seven
additional AM2 Automixers. Use the RAD Port to transport the
main mix digitally via CAT 5 to either a Rane HAL’s RAD Port,
or to a Rane Mongoose to a CobraNet network. If you would also
like manually mixed line audio sources, including USB Audio
I/O, see the Rane AM1 Automixer.
Each of the eight XLR Mic Inputs offers front panel input
Level controls feeding a gain-sharing automatic mixer. Rear panel,
3-position selectors support dynamic mics (no phantom power),
condenser mics (48 V), or wireless receiver outputs (+12 dBV
max). All Level controls come with front panel signal and overload indicators.
The AM2 is optimized for automixing speech. The mic inputs
have a fixed 80 Hz to 7 kHz bandpass filter to provide the best
voice-only automatic mixing using the gain-sharing algorithm.
The XLR Main Output can be set to mic- or line-level to feed
a mic snake or a +20 dBu max balanced input. When an AM2 is
used standalone, both the XLR Output and the RAD Port output
audio are affected by the front panel Output Level control. When
the AM2’s Cascade Output feeds a downstream Rane AM1 or
AM2, the front panel Output Level control only affects the XLR
Output.
The USB port is solely used as a firmware update port if future
updates are needed.
The RAD Port sends the AM2 output mix to either a Rane
HAL’s RAD Port for further signal processing and control, or
to a Mongoose for routing to a CobraNet network. Cascade IN
accepts audio and data from an upstream AM2’s Cascade OUT.
This adds eight more mic channels to the initial AM2 creating
a 16-channel gain-sharing automix. A maximum of eight AM2s
can be cascaded, offering up to 64 gain-shared mics. If an AM1 is
included, it must be the final device in the chain of no more than
eight. Simply connect Cascade OUT ports to Cascade IN ports
and the AM1 RAD Port to the Mongoose or HAL. Both the
Cascade IN port and the Cascade OUT/RAD Port have status
indicators to aid setup and troubleshooting.
Rear panel Fault, Locate, USB and Power indicators inform
head-scratchers of device errors, the AM2’s physical location,
positive USB audio device OS registration and AC power status.
Duplicate Locate and Power indicators on the front help installers physically locate and verify AC power to the AM2.
Universal IEC power on the rear supports 100 to 240 VAC
and 50/60 Hz.
Features
INPUTS:
• Gain-Sharing Automatic Mic Mixing:
•8 XLR Inputs with Level controls & Sig/OL indicators.
•Select Mic, Mic with 48V phantom, or Line level.
OUTPUT:
• XLR Main with Mic/Line switch, Level control & Sig/OL.
• Rane RAD and Cascade IN RJ-45 Ports:
• Cascade In Port connects up to seven Rane AM2 Automixers.
• RAD Port sends Output to either HAL (DSP/control) or
Mongoose (CobraNet).
Rear Panel
100-240V
50/60 Hz 13 WATTS
POWER
RAD PORT
6
5
MIC INPUTS
4
3
2
1
MIC +48V
MIC +0V
WIRELESS MIC
7
MIC +48V
MIC +0V
WIRELESS MIC
USB
DATA
MIC +48V
MIC +0V
WIRELESS MIC
USB
IN
FAULT
LOCATE
8
OUTPUT
CASCADE
MIC +48V
MIC +0V
WIRELESS MIC
SHIELDED CAT 5e OR BETTER • 24 VDC @ 100 mA
MIC
LINE
AM2
RANE CORPORATION
OUT
PATENT NO. 8,542,849
CLASS 2 WIRING
Data Sheet - 1
AM2
AUTOMIXER
Features and Specifications
XLR Inputs
Phantom Power
Maximum Input
Input Impedance
Input Gain Range (Mic/Wireless)
Frequency Response
Main Output
Maximum Output (Mic/Line)
Output Impedance (Mic/Line)
Output Gain Range
Frequency Response
Dynamic Range
THD+N
LED Meters
Signal
Overload
RAD / Cascade In / Out
Sample Rate and Resolution
Unit
Universal Line Voltage
Conformity
U.S. Patent No. 8,542,849
Size
Weight
Shipping Size
Shipping Weight
Note: 0 dBu = 0.775 Vrms
Mono, Balanced, Mic/Line Selectable
+48V per IEC 60268-15, Selectable in Mic mode
-18 dBV / -6 dBv / +12 dBV (Dynamic / Condenser / Wireless)
2.01k, 1%
-80 to +34 dB / -80 to +26 dB
80 Hz to 7 kHz, +0/-3 dB, -20 dBFS, Extended vocal range
Mono, Balanced, XLR
-20 / +20 dBu, 10 kΩ load
51 / 300 Ω, 1%
-80 to 0 dB
80 Hz to 7 kHz, +0/-3 dB, -20 dBFS
101 dB re +20 dBu, 20 kHz BW, A-weighted, 0 dB gain, 10 kΩ load
< 0.02%, 100 Hz to 7 kHz, A-weighted, +4 dBu, 0 dB gain, 10 kΩ load
Mono, peak detecting
-50 dBFS, Green LED, Peak-Reading
-0.5 dBFS, Red LED, Peak-Reading
8P8C (RJ-45) Connector
48 kHz @ 24 bits
All Steel Construction
100 to 240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 13 W
CE, FCC, CCSAUS
1U 1.75"H x 19"W x 8.5"D (4.4 cm x 48.3 cm x 21.6 cm)
5 lb 4 oz (2.4 kg)
4.5" x 20.3" x 13.75" (11.5 cm x 52 cm x 35 cm)
9 lb (4.1 kg)
AM2 use with HAL
The AM2 is a RAD allowing its manually-created mono mix to
be sent digitally to a Rane HAL's RAD port via a CAT 5 cable.
The Rane RADX supports doing so portably – with the AM2 in
a padded rack or on a portable AV cart, for example. Once the
AM2 mix is in the HAL, additional signal processing such as EQ
and compression can be added. Control of the mix’s level using
Rane’s DR1 or DR3 Digital Remotes is also possible.
The AM2 mixer also digitally cascades into Halogen's GainSharing Auto Mixer or Room Combine Processor. This means the
gain-sharing algorithm automatically treats AM2 microphones
and any other microphone wired into these DSP blocks as being
part of the same gain-share. This provides superior gain before
feedback since all mics in the room, regardless of where and how
Data Sheet - 2
they are plugged in to the audio system, all work as one. This
maintains your feedback stability margin.
To maintain PAG & NAG like you never have before, connect
the AM2's Cascade Out jack with a shielded CAT 5e (or better)
cable into any HAL RAD port. In Halogen software, in the Processing Workspace, drag the AM2 onto the Cascade In on either a
Gain-Sharing Auto Mixer or a Room Combine Processor.
You can cascade as many AM2 mixers into these two DSP
blocks as you have RAD Ports available. With a maximum of 36
total RAD ports in a full HAL1, and a maximum of 8 AM2s cascaded externally, over 2,000 channels are possible – yet not many
systems require this many mics.
The AM1 lacks a Cascade Out port, so it cannot be cascaded
into hardware (e.g., AM2) or software blocks in Halogen.
AM2
AUTOMIXER
+48V PHANTOM / MIC / WIRELESS
INPUT 1
2
3
1
Block Diagram
SIG/OL
AUTO
GAINSHARING
MIX
LEVEL
+48V PHANTOM / MIC / WIRELESS
INPUT 2
2
3
1
OUTPUT
OUTPUT
LEVEL
2
1
3
SIG/OL
LEVEL
+48V PHANTOM / MIC / WIRELESS
INPUT 3
2
3
1
MIC/LINE
SIG/OL
RAD PORT / CASCADE OUTPUT
MIX OUT
CASCADE OUT
SIG/OL
STATUS
LEVEL
+48V PHANTOM / MIC / WIRELESS
INPUT 4
2
3
1
SIG/OL
LEVEL
+48V PHANTOM / MIC / WIRELESS
INPUT 5
2
3
1
SIG/OL
LEVEL
+48V PHANTOM / MIC / WIRELESS
INPUT 6
2
3
1
SIG/OL
LEVEL
+48V PHANTOM / MIC / WIRELESS
INPUT 7
2
3
1
SIG/OL
LEVEL
+48V PHANTOM / MIC / WIRELESS
INPUT 8
2
3
1
SIG/OL
LEVEL
CASCADE INPUT
STATUS
Architectural Specifications
The 1U audio device shall provide 8 rear-mounted XLR inputs
automatically mixed using a gain-sharing algorithm. Each input
shall permit selectable mic, mic with 48 volt phantom power,
or line input level intended for wireless receiver outputs. Front
panel mic input level controls for each input shall indicate signal
and overload and an overall output level control with signal and
overload shall be provided.
When used standalone without cascading addition mics, accommodation for two, post-level audio outputs shall be provided.
One on a single XLR male balanced analog output with mic/line
selector switch and the second via a Rane RAD Port on RJ-45
providing 24-bit, 48 kHz PCM digital audio transport to a Rane
Mongoose or HAL. When cascading additional gain-shared mics
downstream, the front panel output level control only affects the
XLR Output.
A USB data port shall be provided to support firmware updates
should they be needed.
A cascade input RJ-45 shall permit gain-sharing mic mix expansion in groups of 8 channels from external automixer devices.
Up to 64 gain-shared mics with a maximum of eight 1U devices
shall be supported. To input line audio sources or perform headphone cueing, a Rane AM1 is supported.
Universal 100 to 240 volt AC, 50 or 60 Hz operation shall be
provided on an IEC rear panel plug.
The unit shall be a Rane AM2.
Data Sheet - 3
AM2
AUTOMIXER
Applications
The AM2 makes it easy to quickly set up and manage multiple
microphones for presentations involving up to eight participants
with wired or wireless microphones. When cascading the AM2
with the AM1 (sold separately), support for several program audio
sources (e.g., DVD, laptop, MP3 player) is easily added.
The AM2 offers a professional integrated solution providing
superior automatic gain before feedback while eliminating operator error with its simple controls. The microphone gain-sharing
algorithm automatically and appropriately attenuates mics not in
use while maintaining the 3 dB per doubling of mics for different
talkers (noncoherent signals), and 6 dB per doubling for the same
talker who is directly between two mics (coherent signals).
Facilities and rental agencies are called upon to provide either
equipment, or equipment and operators, for meetings or conferences needing A/V support. The equipment providers must
ensure audio quality throughout the event to get repeat business.
However, the provided equipment may be operated by presenters who have no audio experience. If an operator is sent with the
equipment to set up and manage the system during the presentation, that operator may have minimal audio experience. Pitfalls
abound when interconnecting the system, and managing multimicrophone gain before feedback, mixing and volume. Enter the
Rane AM2.
Record to or playback from
your computer on USB.
DVD
MP3/
Phone
Powered
Speaker
MENU
Wireless Receiver
AM1 Automixer
4
2
RAD PORT
3
MIC INPUTS
2
1
MIC +48V
MIC +0V
WIRELESS MIC
COMM
POWER
1
MIC +48V
MIC +0V
WIRELESS MIC
AUDIO RX
POWER
AUX
INPUTS
MIC +48V
MIC +0V
WIRELESS MIC
USB
AUDIO
AUDIO TX
USB
RECORD
5 VDC @ 500 mA
USB
CHARGE
ONLY
LOCATE
100-240V
50/60 Hz 13 WATTS
MAIN OUTPUT
CASCADE
FAULT
MIC +48V
MIC +0V
WIRELESS MIC
SHIELDED CAT 5e OR BETTER • 24 VDC @ 100 mA
AM1
RANE CORPORATION
MIC
LINE
PATENT NO. 8,542,849
CLASS 2 WIRING
To HAL (optional)
AM2 Automixer
RAD PORT
100-240V
50/60 Hz 13 WATTS
POWER
RAD PORT
3
2
1
MIC +48V
MIC +0V
WIRELESS MIC
4
USB cable
Ethernet (CAT 5e)
Audio cable
5
MIC INPUTS
4
3
2
1
MIC +48V
MIC +0V
WIRELESS MIC
6
MIC +48V
MIC +0V
WIRELESS MIC
7
MIC +48V
MIC +0V
WIRELESS MIC
IN
USB
DATA
MIC +48V
MIC +0V
WIRELESS MIC
USB
MIC
LINE
FAULT
LOCATE
8
OUTPUT
CASCADE
RANE CORPORATION
MIC INPUTS
All additional mics will gain-share
SHIELDED CAT 5e OR BETTER • 24 VDC @ 100 mA
OUT
AM2
5
CLASS 2 WIRING
Additional AM2s (up to seven)
PATENT NO. 8,542,849
6
MIC +48V
MIC +0V
WIRELESS MIC
USB
POWER
100-240V
50/60 Hz 13 WATTS
7
MIC +48V
MIC +0V
WIRELESS MIC
OUT
LOCATE
USB
DATA
8
OUTPUT
CASCADE
FAULT
MIC +48V
MIC +0V
WIRELESS MIC
SHIELDED CAT 5e OR BETTER • 24 VDC @ 100 mA
IN
AM2
RANE CORPORATION
MIC
LINE
PATENT NO. 8,542,849
CLASS 2 WIRING
©Rane Corporation 10802 47th Ave. W., Mukilteo WA 98275-5000 TEL 425-355-6000 FAX 425-347-7757 WEB rane.com
Data Sheet - 4
Specifications subject to change without notice. 9-2015